NZ299085A - Sink unit with tap structure has pressure pad attached to sink opens valve on tap when pressure is applied and automatically closes valve when pressure is released - Google Patents

Description

k . ?99085 JSJ.Z. patent' patents form NO. g I £d>m rm Fee No. 4: $260.00 t R*r.C£°V:" PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional No: 299085 Dated: 29 July 1996 James & Wells R?f: 12567/14 CH IMPROVEMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS TO SINK UNITS We Arthur John Butt and Dorothy Fay Butt, both New Zealand citizens of Florence Lane, RD 6, Te Puna, Tauranga, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which I/We pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: i 1 299085 IMPROVEMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS TO SINK UNITS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to improvements and modifications to sink units. BACKGROUND ART In some instances it can be difficult for people to turn off their taps, whether because they are physically infirm or because they have forgotten they had left a tap on. Apparently, this is a common occurrence in places such as hospitals and rest-homes. The resultant floods have made it desirable for there to be provided a tap which automatically turns off.

The previous style of taps known as washer taps operate by having a valve which pushes upwards against a valve seat. There have been washer taps designed which automatically turn off. These require the operator to push down on the tap against a compression spring to open the water valve. Once the operator removes the pressure from the tap, the compression spring causes the top of the tap to spring upwards closing the valve. Unfortunately, this has a number of disadvantages as it is awkward to wash one's hands while holding down the top of a tap. Further, the pressure required to exert upon the tap to hold it open can be considerable and therefore may be difficult for elderly or infirm people to use. Another problem with taps that use compression springs is that they tend to suffer from water hammer.

A more modern style of tap is the ceramic tap which has two sliding apertured discs that align as the tap is turned on. Most of these ceramic taps only require a quarter of a turn to turn on and off. At present, the applicant is not aware of any ceramic taps which automatically turn off.

Th. i*e are many situations where it would be desirable to have a sink unit 2 299085 whereby the waterflow can be obtained without using hands at all. For instance, in hospitals, surgeons must avoid touching taps with their hands for sanitary reasons. It would be desirable if there could be provided a sink unit with valves which automatically turn off yet can be operated leaving both hands free. Situations where such an invention will be particularly applicable would include boats, food premises, schools, public washrooms, rest homes, hospitals, motor camps and local bodies. Such an apparatus could be used in relation hi drinking fountains as well as to standard sink units.

It would also be desirable if there could be provided a sink unit which totally encloses all the valves and pipes and brackets associated with the sink unit. • This is because the exposed fixtures: valves, pipes and brackets and/or other devices for fastening the sink unit to the wall, associated with sink units present surfaces which are difficult to clean and/or keep dry. Accordingly, these surfaces can provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.

Furthermore these exposed fixtures for a sink unit when in public premises -such as toilets can result in water damage occurring through vandalism of these accessible fixtures.

It would also be an advantage over existing sink units if there could be I provided a sink unit which can be operated without hands which also allows the user to determine the desired temperature of water.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above problems, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

Disclosure of Invention 990 85 According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an accessory for a sink unit, the accessory incorporating a closure means for automatically closing a mixer valve capable of delivering a variable range of water temperatures, from cold through to the maximum temperature of the hot water system, the temperature depending on the extent to which the valve is opened, the closure comprising a pressure pad biasing means attached to the valve, against which biasing means an operator pushes when opening the valve, the arrangement and construction being such that when the operator is no longer pushing against said biasing means, the biasing means causes the valve to return to its original closed position, characterised in that the closure means is operated by way of a pressure pad, the pressure pad being orientated substantially horizontally and connected to the valve via a sleeve for controlling operation of the valve, the sleeve including a lever radially protruding from its outer surface, wherein movement of the pressure pad causes a corresponding movement of the laver so as to allow the operator to determine the water temperature by varying the degree of pushing applied to the pressure pad.

In preferred embodiments the accessory for the sink unit is used within a sink unit which has a frame which acts as a bracket for attaching the sink * unit to a wall. The frame of the sink unit also encloses the accessory for the sink unit and any other fixtures such as pipes and drains which are commonly associated with sink units.

In preferred embodiments, the accessory for the sink unit incorporates a pressure pad directly or indirectly attached to the closure means. Preferably this pressure pad will be situated at approximately knee height so that the operator of the device can place his/her knee against the pressure pad to 4 open the water valve and hence let water flow into the sink unit. In some embodiments the pressure pad may be head operated.

For-ease of reference only the pressure pad will now be referred to as a pressure plate. However this should not be seen as limiting.

In preferred embodiments the pressure plate may be pivotally attached to the frame. Thus, pressure of a knee against the pressure plate will cause the plate to swing inwards. This motion can be then translated to the valve closure means causing the valve to open and the water to flow into the sink unit. Upon removal of the knee from the pressure plate, the biasing means on the valve closure means causes the valve to close thus shutting off water to the sink unit.

If the pressure plate is attached to an independent frame, a number of advantages occur. Firstly, the frame can be screwed to the wall in the first instance then, a basin can be fitted into the frame. This overcomes early problems with fitting basins as a ready support is provided for the sink unit which had not occurred beforehand. Further, any sink unit can be used with the basic frame and the units can be made interchangeable.

The above method also simplifies matters in terms of maintenance.

Further, once the sink unit is installed into the frame, a simple linkage is all ♦ that is required between the valve and the water outlet port in the basin.

The biasing means in the valve closure means may come in a variety of forms. It may be a lever arrangement, or use a resilient material such as rubber, or perhaps be a spring, leaf spring or torsion spring.

In embodiments of the present invention, where the biasing means is a torsion spring. That is, a spring which has a resisting force when turned in a direction. It is envisaged that left and right hand springs may be used 29 9 08 5 depending on which way the closure means is aligned with the pressure plate.

In preferred embodiments the biasing means is a standard spring, which may be attached directly or indirectly to the valve, and pressure plate provided it is biased towards the direction in which the valve is closed.

The valve used may come in a variety of forms. In some embodiments the valve may be the type found in a modern ceramic tap.

As discussed in the following example.

Example One Ceramic taps have a spindle which is connected to a drive pin which in turn is connected to a registration disc. The registration disc has apertures in it and fits over a basic disc which has similarly shaped apertures. Screwed to the top of the spindle is a handle insert, on top of which the handle sits. A tab washer is fitted over the spindle and sits on top of the tap head which likewise surrounds the tap spindle.

In the present invention, a lever is substituted for the handle insert. Rotation of the lever causes the spindle, drive pin and registration disc to rotate. This rotation aligns the apertures in the registration disc with those in the basic disc allowing water to flow through the valve out through the appropriate water outlet port spindle. Turning the spindle back to its original position causes the registration disc to have its apertures aligned with the solid portion of the basic dibc, thus shutting off the liquid flow through the tap.

In a preferred embodiment, the closure means has a valve modified as described above to incorporate a biasing means. A longer spindle than found 299085 in standard ceramic taps may be provided so that the biasing means has room to be fitted. In embodiments which use a torsion spring, the lever (which is generally made of metal) may have a number of apertures drilled into it, into which one end of the torsion spring can fit. In some embodiments, there may be only one aperture or attachment means for the torsion spring however it has been found by the applicant that a number of apertures can give a range of tensions to choose from. In this embodiment, the other end of the torsion spring may fit into the tab washer, although of course there are other places on the tap to which it and the other end of the spring can be affixed.

In preferred embodiments the other end of the torsion spring may be attached to the valve in such a way to give different tensions.

Thus, an operator pushing against the pressure plate turns the handle insert a quarter of a turn and twists the torsion spring with respect to the tab washer. Upon release of the pressure plate, .he torsion spring naturally returns to its original position turning the spindle and in the process turning off the supply of water to the water outlet port on the sink unit.

In preferred embodiments however, the valve used may be a mixer valve ♦ for hot and cold water which allows the user to determine the water temperature.

As discussed in the following example.

Example Two Standard mixer valves, such as commonly used in showers, are sold with a plastic sleeve which has been slid over the outlet of the mixer valve and 2990 y 5 then attached to the valve mechanism (itself) via a screw. This sleeve has grooves in its outer surface which correspond to protrusions on the inner surface of a further sleeve, which also has a lever. Once the two sleeves are connected via their respective grooves and protrusions, any resulting rotation of the lever by a user, in turn rotates the sleeve attached to the valve mechanism so as to operate the valve via this process.

In the present invention the plastic sleeve which is initially slid over the mixer valve outlet is substituted for a modified sleeve which already has a lever radially protruding from its outer surface. This modified sleeve is also attached to the valve mechanism via a screw.

For ease of reference the lever which forms part of, or is attached to, the "modified" sleeve will now be referred to as the sleeve lever.

In order to operate the mixer valve a further lever which is attached to the pressure plate (pressure lever) is connected to the sleeve lever.

Attachment of pressure lever to pressure plate may be achieved by a variety of means including (but not limited to) welding, rivets, screws.

The pressure lever may be attached to the sleeve lever by a number of means such as the use of rivets, screws or any other known attachment means. However, in prefei.red embodiments this connection is effected by means of an aperture in the sleeve lever into which a part of the pressure lever may engage.

In operation, when pressure is applied against the pressure plate the inward motion of the pressure plate and in turn the pressure lever causes movement of the sleeve lever. This motion of the sleeve lever in turn operates the valve mechanism of the mixer valve moving this to its open position. 8 299085 However, in preferred embodiments the pressure lever is attached by means of at least one separate attachment device which may be screwed or riveted, or welded to the pressure plate.

Further movement, of the pressure plate due to pressure being applied, causes the valve mechanism to open further allowing more hot water to be added to the resulting mix.

When pressure is no longer applied to the pressure plate the biasing means, returns the valve to its closed position. In preferred embodiments the biasing means is a spring which is attached to the frame at one end, and to the pressure lever or sleeve lever (near where the two levers are connected) at its other end. In preferred embodiments the spring may be attached to the pressure lever in this region.

Thus, by this means users of the present invention can determine the desired temperature of water by simply increasing or decreasing the pressure applied to the pressure plate.

In order to allow the user to easily determine the water temperature, when using the mixer valve the applicant has found a balance must be achieved. This balance is between the pressure plate requiring either too much or too little movement to fully open the valve mechanism of the mixer valve.

* The drawback, of requiring too much movement, is that it is both difficult and uncomfortable for the user, to have the push the pressure plate through a greater range of inward motion, in order to achieve the desired water temperature.

On the other hand the trade off of requiring too little movement is that the user has less control when determining the water temperature. This is because only relatively small movements of the pressure plate, separate 299085 water temperatures which are either too hot or too cold. To try and overcome this control problem the applicant has trailed using a stronger biasing means, however this makes pushing the pressure plate both more difficult and more uncomfortable to the user.

After much experimentation the applicant has now found that moving the pressure plate between 60 - 80mm provides a suitable balance between the extremes of too little or too much movement. Ideally 70mm movement (up to a maximum of 80 mm movement) should be all that is required to move the valve from its off to fully on position, thereby allowing the user a full range of valve movement, to easily control the temperature of water.

The applicant has also found that the position where the pressure lever connects to the sleeve lever is crucial to achieving the preferred 70 mm movement to fully open the valve mechanism. To achieve a fully opened the valve within 70mm of movement, the pressure lever should be connected to the sleeve lever, such that it is radially 46mm from the centre point of the outlet conduit of the mixer valve, when viewed side on.

Example 3 Recent developments in mixer valves have lead to a new "off the shelf" mixer valve being manufactured with a sleeve lever substantially as ♦ described previously being part of the valve.

In some embodiments, the water outlet port may not be at the rear of the sink unit as in conventional units, but may be at the front of the unit and positioned so as to direct water to the rear of the unit. This may overcome some problems which could occur if water pressure is higher than average which may cause water to splash out of the sink unit if a rear water outlet 299085 port is used.

It can be seen that the present invention can be used in wide variety of situations, particularly for people with disabilities, but also in places such as boats, schools, public washrooms, food premises, rest-homes, hospitals, homes for elderly people, motor camps and by local bodies. The present invention also is invaluable for situations where water conservation is desired.

Brief description of drawings Aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: is a spindle for use in a sink unit made in accordance with one aspect as described in Example One of the present invention, and Figure 2: is a diagrammatic bottom view of a handle insert which can be incorporated in the present invention as described in Example One, and Figure 3: is a diagrammatic representation of a biasing means for use with the present invention as described in Example One, and Figure 4: is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of the present invention as described in Example One, and Figure 5: is a diagrammatic external view of a sink unit in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, and Figure 6: is a diagrammatic view of underneath a sink unit illustrating various connections as described in Example One. 11 299085 Figure 7: is a diagrammatic view of a mixer valve used in preferred embodiments of the present invention as described in Example Two.

Figure 8: is a diagrammatic view of a sleeve which fits onto the outlet conduit of the mixer valve shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9: is a cross-sectional view of the sink unit through line x-x in Figure 5 showing the various connections as described in Example Two.

Figure 10: is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment for the pressure lever shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11: is a plan view of a portion sink unit incorporating a mixer valve as shown in Example 3.

Best Modes For Carrying Out the Invention With respect to Figure 1, there is illustrated a spindle 1 attached to a drive pin 2. An aperture 3 in the spindle 1 allows the insertion of a roll pin (not shown. A flat 4 at the top of the spindle is for securing the handle insert illustrated in Figure 2.

The spindle illustrated in Figure 1 is substantially the same as a spindle used on conventional taps except it is approximately 20% longer to allow the insertion of a torsion spring such as that illustrated in Figure 3.

The lever 5 is illustrated in Figure 2 as a bottom view only. This lever 5 is comprised of metal and has a central aperture 6 with flats 7 that correspond to the flats 4 on the spindle 1. Next to the aperture 6 is a smaller aperture 8.

The torsion spring 9 illustrated in Figure 2 has two ends 10 and il. The end 12 of the torsion spring 9 is substantially vertical and can fit into the aperture 8 on the lever 5.

The end 11 of the torsion spring 9 is hook shaped and fits into the tab washer 13 shown in Figure 4. This end is usually used to adjust the tension on the spring. In other embodiments a pin arrangement may be used to adjust the tension.

Figure 4 illustrates a valve generally indicated by arrow 12 into which the comronents of the spindle 1, lever 5 and torsion spring 9 have been inserted. Although it is not clearly shown, the end 10 of the torsion spring 9 is fitted into one of the apertures 8 of the lever 5. The other end 11 of the torsion spring 9 is hooked around the tab washer 13 which sits onto of the tap head 14.

Figure 5 is an external perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. It illustrates a frame 21 into which a sink unit 30 sits. At the rear of the rink unit 30 is a water outlet 31. Extending from the frame 21 is a pressure plate 22 which is pivotally attached to the frame 21. Pressure of a knee near the base of the pressure plate 22 causes the plate 22 to swing inwards until it is flush with the front face 23 of the frame 21.

Figure 6 is a top view of the frame 21 without the basin unit 30. Although it * is not clearly shown, the whole of the valve unit illustrated in Figure 4 (now indicated by numeral 24) is fixed to the frame 21. A lever 5 is attached to the handle insert (not shown) of the valve 24 and also abuts against the internal surface of the pressure plate 22.

A water inlet pipe 26 is attached to the valve unit 24. For clarity, the outlet pipe from the valve 24 is not illustrated, but it connects to the basin unit pipe 27 which leads to the water outlet port 31 in the sink unit 30.

P990 85 The pressure plate 22 rests against the lever 5 of the handle insert 5 and the pressure plate 22 with a knee turns the lever 5, handle insert 5, the spindle 1 and the drive pin 2. This turning motion on ens the valve 24 against the bias of the torsion spring 9 held by the tab washer 13. Water flows from the inlet pipe 26 through the valve 24 and into the outlet pipe 27 and into the sink unit 30 through the outlet port 31. Release of the pressure plate 22 allows the torsion spring 9 to return to its original position thus automatically closing the valve 24 and stopping water flow to the sink unit 30.

With respect to Figure 7 there is provided a mixer valve generally indicated by arrow 40. The mixer valve 40 includes a hot inlet 41 and a cold inlet 42 both inlets 41 and 42 have manual on off valves 43 and 44, which are turned to their off position if there is no water supply to the associated inlet.

The mixer 40 also has an outlet conduit 45, in which is housed the mixer valve mechanism (not shown).

With respect to Figure 8 there is provided a sleeve 50 which fits over the outlet conduit 45 of the mixer valve 40.

The sleeve 50 has a screw 51 which retains the sleeve on the outlet conduit 45 and also attaches the sleeve to the valve mechanism of the mixer valve 40.

♦ In the embodiment shown the sleeve 50 has provided an integral sleeve lever 52 which includes an aperture 53 at its outer end.

With respect to Figure 9 there is provided a pressure lever 60 which is attached to the pressure plate 22 by means of attachment devices 100 which have been welded in this embodiment to the pressure plate. The pressure lever is attached to the attachment devices by means of apertures (not shown) in the attachment devices. ? 9 9 0 8 5 Pressure of a knee on the pressure plate 22 causes the pressure plate to pivot around pivot 61 in the general direction indicated by arrow 62.

The* pressure lever 60 is connected to a sleeve lever 52 by means of the aperture 53 (more clearly shown in Figure 8).

The sleeve lever 52 has a protrusion from the sleeve 50 which surrounds the outlet conduit 45 on the mixer valve 40. As described in the specification above the applicant has found it crucial to have the aperture 53 on the sleeve lever 52 positioned so that it is 46mm radially from the centre of the outlet conduit 65.

Movement of the pressure lever 60 in the general direction 62 causes the sleeve lever 52 to move in the general direction indicated by arrow 66.

Movement of the sleeve lever 52 in the direction 66 causes the mixer valve mechanism (not shown) to move towards its fully open position which occurs when the sleeve lever 52 reaches the position indicated by arrow 67.

When the pressure is removed from the pressure plate 22 the biasing means in the form of a spring 68 (biased in the direction indicated by arrow 69) causes the sleeve lever 52 to return to its original position thus closing the mixer valve mechanism. In the embodiment shown the spring 68 is attached to the'protrusion 70 (shown in Figure 10) on the pressure lever 60 by means of a hook (not shown) on the spring.

With respect to Figure 10 there is provided a pressure lever 60 which is generally U shaped including a protrusion 70 which engages with the aperture 53 on the sleeve lever 52 to connect the pressure lever 60 to the same.

The pressure lever 60 is generally attached to the pressure plate 22 at the ends 799085 indicated by arrow 71 which have been angled to prevent their removal from the aperture in the attachment device 100 shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 illustrates a partial plan view of pressure lever 200 connected to a sleeve lever 201 of a mixer • valve generally indicated by arrow 202. The mixer valve 202 shown is an "off the shelf" mixer valve. The valve 202 has a sleeve lever 201 already incorporated as part of the valve 202 as described previously in example 3. The mixer valve 202 includes a hot water inlet 203 and a cold water inlet 204, both inlets 203 and 204 have manual on/off valves 205 and 206 which are turned to their off position if there is no water supply to the associated inlets.

The mixer 202 has an outlet conduit 207 beneath which is housed the mixer valve mechanism (not shown).

In some preferred embodiments, the pressure lever 200 may be shaped as a dog's leg (not shown) so as to allow the sleeve lever 201 to be moved from its fully off to its fully on position. The pressure lever 200 which is attached to the pressure plate (not shown) is biased by means of a spring 208 which is attached to the mixer's 202 fixing flange 209. However, it will be appreciated that the spring 208 may alternately be attached to the frame of the sink unit (not shown).

♦ It will be appreciated that aspects of the operation of an accessory incorporating a mixer such as valve 202, not specifically described here, may be substantially the same as the description given in relation to figure 10 above.

It should be appreciated that aspects of the present invention have been 16 299085 described by way of example only and modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims. 17

Claims (11)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 299085

1. An accessory for a sink unit, the accessory incorporating a closure means for automatically closing a mixer valve capable of delivering a variable range of water temperatures, from cold through to the maximum temperature of the hot water system, the temperature depending on the extent to which the valve is opened, the closure comprising a pressure pad biasing means attached to the valve, against which biasing means an operator pushes when opening the valve, the arrangement and construction being such that when the operator is no longer pushing against said biasing means the biasing means causes the valve to return to its original closed position characterised in that the closure means is operated by way of a pressure pad, the pressure pad being orientated substantially horizontally and connected to the valve via a sleeve for controlling operation of the valve, the sleeve including a lever radially protruding from its outer surface, wherein movement of the pressure pad causes a corresponding movement of the lever so as to allow the operator to determine the water temperature by varying the degree of pushing applied to the pressure pad.

2. The; accessory for a sink unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the operator is able to determine a full range of water temperatures within 60 millimetres to 80 millimetres of movement of the pressure pad.

3. The accessory for a sink unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the operator is able to determine a full range of water temperatures within 70 millimetres of movement of the pressure pad.

4. The accessory for a sink unit as claimed in any one of claims 1,2 or 3 wherein the pressure pad is connected to the sleeve lever of claim 1 via a pressure lever. 18 2S9035

5. The accessory for a sink unit as claimed in the preceding claim wherein the pressure lever is connected to the sleeve lever such that it is radially 46 millimetres from the centre point of the outlet conduit of the mixer valve, when viewed side on.

6. The accessory for a sink unit as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the sink unit is supported via a frame.

7. The accessory for a sink unit as claimed in any one of the claims wherein the frame also encloses the accessory for the sink unit and any other fixtures associated with the sink unit.

8. The accessory for a sink unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pressure pad is situated at approximately knee height.

9. The accessory for a sink unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pressure pad is capable of being operated via the knee of an operator.

10. The accessory for a sink unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the biasing means is a standard spring.

11. An accessory for a sink unit substantially as described herein with reference to any example and/or drawing thereof. ARTHUR TOHN BUTT & DOROTHY FAY BJTT by their Attorneys, 2 2 OCT 1997 TAMES & WELLS h); 0 END OFCLAIMS